NIC Theatre Department’s “Noises Off” Opens Thursday

NIC Theatre Department’s “Noises Off,” a farce by Micheal Frayn, will open its doors on Thursday at 7:00 p.m. in the Boswell Hall Schuler Performing Arts Center. The play is free and open to all audiences. 

Anthony Kirby (left) and Emma Rhoades (right).

“Farce is a genre of comedy that focuses on exaggerated and unlikely circumstances,” said Quinn Gilchrist, dramaturg and NIC student. “‘Noises Off’ is a classic farce, but the play within the play, “Nothings On,” is a bedroom farce.” 

The play includes mature language and themes.

“It’s a physical comedy….and there are performance skills that are really important and unique to that genre,” said Joe Jacoby, NIC instructor. “We haven’t done anything along those lines in quite some time.”

Alex J. Jones, an NIC student, operates the light board. 

NIC students have worked both on and off stage to put the performance together. Alex J. Jones, an NIC student, operates the light board for the show.

“I fell in love with theater in high school and decided to make a college career of it,” Jones said. “This is my first technical job in theater since I was running for a musical in high school.”

From left to right: Monica Thomas (back of stage), Ty Harrington, and Sebastian Jean Goetz.

All of the cast are NIC students except where noted, and includes Monica Thomas (former NIC student), Ty Harrington, Anthony Kirby, Emma Rhoades, Sebastian Goetz, Scouten Christensen, Mikaela Primmer, Gavin Reasor (former NIC student), and Brandon Miller (former NIC student).

Jacoby, director for “Noises Off,” has been teaching at NIC since fall of 1999, starting his career by filling in for the theater instructor on Sabbatical.

Gavin Reasor playing Tim Allgood.

“When he came back I, well I was on campus about 15 minutes and I thought, I would love to have a steady job here,” Jacoby said. “I love being in the classroom with the students.”

Jacoby recently received the “Education in the Arts” award  the “Education in the Arts” award at the 24th Annual Mayor’s Awards in the Arts on October 9 for supporting arts education and helping students pursue their passion.

“Tie-dye is my favorite color and it matches everything eventually.” -Joe Jacoby, NIC instructor and play director.

“Any accomplishment I achieve has a lot to do with having a great team,” Jacoby said. “Our designers…are highly skilled, creative artists that add a great deal to our shows and the effectiveness of our storytelling.”

Behind the scenes, NIC’s theater department has an amazing staff. Justin Van Eaton works with scenery, Carole Urquhart manages costumes, and Jay Carkhuff and Tyler Hughes control the lights.

From left to right, Mikaela Primmer, Brandon Miller, and Scouten Christensen.

“Having those people in our department makes me look really good and provides tremendous support for our students,” Jacoby said. 

“Noises Off” will run October 17-19 and October 24-27 at 7:30 p.m.